Fair Margaret Page 5

  CHAPTER V

  CASTELL'S SECRET

  In John Castell's house it was the habit, as in most others in thosedays, for his dependents, clerks, and shopmen to eat their morning andmid-day meals with him in the hall, seated at two lower tables, all ofthem save Betty, his daughter's cousin and companion, who sat with themat the upper board. This morning Betty's place was empty, and presentlyCastell, lifting his eyes, for he was lost in thought, noted it, andasked where she might be--a question that neither Margaret nor Petercould answer.

  One of the servants at the lower table, however--it was that man who hadbeen sent to follow d'Aguilar on the previous night--said that as hecame down Holborn a while before he had seen her walking with theSpanish don, a saying at which his master looked grave.

  Just as they were finishing their meal, a very silent one, for none ofthem seemed to have anything to say, and after the servants had left thehall, Betty arrived, flushed as though with running.

  "Where have you been that you are so late?" asked Castell.

  "To seek the linen for the new sheets, but it was not ready," sheanswered glibly. "The mercer kept you waiting long," remarked Castellquietly. "Did you meet any one?"

  "Only the folk in the street."

  "I will ask you no more questions, lest I should cause you to lie andbring you into sin," said Castell sternly. "Girl, how far did you walkwith the Senor d'Aguilar, and what was your business with him?"

  Now Betty knew that she had been seen, and that it was useless to denythe truth.

  "Only a little way," she answered, "and that because he prayed me toshow him his path."

  "Listen, Betty," went on Castell, taking no notice of her words. "Youare old enough to guard yourself, therefore as to your walking abroadwith gallants who can mean you no good I say nothing. But know this--noone who has knowledge of the matters of my house," and he looked at herkeenly, "shall mix with any Spaniard. If you are found alone with thissenor any more, that hour I have done with you, and you never pass mydoor again. Nay, no words. Take your food and eat it elsewhere."

  So she departed half weeping, but very angry, for Betty was strong andobstinate by nature. When she had gone, Margaret, who was fond of hercousin, tried to say some words on her behalf; but her fatherstopped her.

  "Pshaw!" he said, "I know the girl; she is vain as a peacock, and,remembering her gentle birth and good looks, seeks to marry above herstation; while for some purpose of his own--an ill one, I'll warrant--that Spaniard plays upon her weakness, which, if it be not curbed, maybring trouble on us all. Now, enough of Betty Dene; I must to my work."

  "Sir," said Peter, speaking for the first time, "we would have aprivate word with you."

  "A private word," he said, looking up anxiously. "Well, speak on. No,this place is not private; I think its walls have ears. Follow me," andhe led the way into the old chapel, whereof, when they had all passedit, he bolted the door. "Now," he said, "what is it?"

  "Sir," answered Peter, standing before him, "having your leave at last,I asked your daughter in marriage this morning."

  "At least you lose no time, friend Peter; unless you had called her fromher bed and made your offer through the door you could not have done itquicker. Well, well, you ever were a man of deeds, not words, and whatsays my Margaret?"

  "An hour ago she said she was content," answered Peter.

  "A cautious man also," went on Castell with a twinkle in his eye, "whoremembers that women have been known to change their minds within anhour. After such long thought, what say you now, Margaret?"

  "That I am angry with Peter," she answered, stamping her small foot,"for if he does not trust me for an hour, how can he trust me for hislife and mine?"

  "Nay, Margaret, you do not understand me," said Peter. "I wished not tobind you, that is all, in case----"

  "Now you are saying it again," she broke in vexed, and yet amused. "Doso a third time, and I will you at your word."

  "It seems best that I should remain silent. Speak you," said Peterhumbly.

  "Aye, for truly you are a master of silence, as I should know, if anydo," replied Margaret, bethinking her of the weary months and years ofwaiting. "Well, I will answer for you.--Father, Peter was right; I amcontent to marry him, though to do so will be to enter the Order of theSilent Brothers. Yes, I am content; not for himself, indeed, who has somany faults, but for myself, who chance to love him," and she smiledsweetly enough.

  "Do not jest on such matters, Margaret."

  "Why not, father? Peter is solemn enough for both of us--look at him.Let us laugh while we may, for who knows when tears may come?"

  "A good saying," answered Castell with a sigh. "So you two have plightedyour troth, and, my children, I am glad of it, for who knows when thosetears of which Margaret spoke may come, and then you can wipe away eachother's? Take now her hand, Peter, and swear by the Rood, that symbolwhich you worship"--here Peter glanced at him, but he went on--"swear,both of you that come what may, together or separate, through goodreport or evil report, through poverty or wealth, through peace orpersecutions, through temptation or through blood, through every good orill that can befall you in this world of bittersweet, you will remainfaithful to your troth until you be wed, and after you are wed, faithfulto each other till death do part you."

  These words he spoke to them in a voice that was earnest almost topassion, searching their faces the while with his quick eyes as thoughhe would read their very hearts. His mood crept from him to them; onceagain they felt something of that fear which had fallen on them in thegarden when they passed into the shadow of the Spaniard. Very solemnlythen, and with little of true lovers' joy, did they take each other'shands and swear by the Cross and Him Who hung on it, that through thesethings, and all others they could not foretell, they would, if needwere, be faithful to the death.

  "And beyond it also," added Peter; while Margaret bowed her stately headin sweet assent.

  "Children," said Castell, "you will be rich--few richer in thisland--though mayhap it would be wise that you should not show all yourwealth at once, or ape the place of a great house, lest envy should fallupon your heads and crush you. Be content to wait, and rank will findyou in its season, or if not you, your children. Peter, I tell you now,lest I should forget it, that the list of all my moneys and otherpossessions in chattels or lands or ships or merchandise is buriedbeneath the floor of my office, just under where my chair stands. Liftthe boards and dig away a foot of rubbish, and you will find a stonetrap, and below an iron box with the deeds, inventories, and some veryprecious jewels. Also, if by any mischance that box should be lost,duplicates of nearly all these papers are in the hands of my good friendand partner in our inland British trade, Simon Levett, whom you know.Remember my words, both of you."

  "Father," broke in Margaret in an anxious voice, "why do you speak ofthe future thus?--I mean, as though you had no share in it? Do youfear aught?"

  "Yes, daughter, much, or rather I expect, I do not fear, who amprepared and desire to meet all things as they come. You have sworn thatoath, have you not? And you will keep it, will you not?"

  "Aye!" they answered with one breath.

  "Then prepare you to feel the weight of the first of those trialswhereof it speaks, for I will no longer hold back the truth from you.Children, I, whom for all these years you have thought of your ownfaith, am a Jew as my forefathers were before me, back to the daysof Abraham."

  The effect of this declaration upon its hearers was remarkable. Peter'sjaw dropped, and for the second time that day his face went white; whileMargaret sank down into a chair that stood near by, and stared at himhelplessly. In those times it was a very terrible thing to be a Jew.Castell looked from one to the other, and, feeling the insult of theirsilence, grew angry.

  "What!" he exclaimed in a bitter voice, "are you like all the others? Doyou scorn me also because I am of a race more ancient and honourablethan those of any of your mushroom lords and kings? You know my life:say, what have I done wrong? Have I caught Christian
children andcrucified them to death? Have I defrauded my neighbour or oppressed thepoor? Have I mocked your symbol of the Host? Have I conspired againstthe rulers of this land? Have I been a false friend or a cruel father?You shake your heads; then why do you stare at me as though I were athing accursed and unclean? Have I not a right to the faith of myfathers? May I not worship God in my own fashion?" And he looked atPeter, a challenge in his eyes. "Sir," answered Peter, "without adoubt you may, or so it seems to me. But then, why for all these yearshave you appeared to worship Him in ours?"

  At this blunt question, so characteristic of the speaker, Castell seemedto shrink like a pin-pricked bladder, or some bold fighter who hassuddenly received a sword-thrust in his vitals. All courage went out ofthe man, his fiery eyes grew tame, he appeared to become visiblysmaller, and to put on something of the air of those mendicants of hisown race, who whine out their woes and beg alms of the passer-by. Whennext he spoke, it was as a suppliant for merciful judgment at the handsof his own child and her lover.

  "Judge me not harshly," he said. "Think what it is to be a Jew--anoutcast, a thing that the lowest may spurn and spit at, one beyond thelaw, one who can be hunted from land to land like a mad wolf, andtortured to death, when caught, for the sport of gentle Christians, whofirst have stripped him of his gains and very garments. And then thinkwhat it means to escape all these woes and terrors, and, by the doffingof a bonnet, and the mumbling of certain prayers with the lips inpublic, to find sanctuary, peace, and protection within the walls ofMother Church, and thus fostered, to grow rich and great."

  He paused as though for a reply, but as they did not speak, went on:

  "Moreover, as a child, I was baptized into your Church; but my heart,like that of my father, remained with the Jews, and where the heart goesthe feet follow."

  "That makes it worse," said Peter, as though speaking to himself.

  "My father taught me thus," Castell went on, as though pleading his casebefore a court of law.

  "We must answer for our own sins," said Peter again.

  Then at length Castell took fire.

  "You young folk, who as yet know little of the terrors of the world,reproach me with cold looks and colder words," he said; "but I wonder,should you ever come to such a pass as mine, whether you will find theheart to meet it half as bravely? Why do you think that I have told youthis secret, that I might have kept from you as I kept it from yourmother, Margaret? I say because it is a part of my penance for the sinwhich I have sinned. Aye, I know well that my God is a jealous God, andthat this sin will fall back on my head, and that I shall pay its priceto the last groat, though when and how the blow will strike me I knownot. Go you, Peter, or you, Margaret, and denounce me if you will. Yourpriests will speak well of you for the deed, and open to you a shorterroad to Heaven, and I shall not blame you, nor lessen your wealth by asingle golden noble."

  "Do not speak so madly, Sir," said Peter; "these matters are between youand God. What have we to do with them, and who made us judges over you?We only pray that your fears may come to nothing, and that you may reachyour grave in peace and honour."

  "I thank you for your generous words, which are such as befit yournature," said Castell gently; "but what says Margaret?"

  "I, father?" she answered, wildly. "Oh! I have nothing to say. He isright. It is between you and God; but it is hard that I must lose mylove so soon." Peter looked up, and Castell answered:

  "Lose him! Why, what did he swear but now?"

  "I care not what he swore; but how can I ask him, who is of noble,Christian birth, to marry the daughter of a Jew who all his life haspassed himself off as a worshipper of that Jesus Whom he denies?"

  Now Peter held up his hand.

  "Have done with such talk," he said. "Were your father Judas himself,what is that to you and me? You are mine and I am yours till death partus, nor shall the faith of another man stand between us for an hour.Sir, we thank you for your confidence, and of this be sure, thatalthough it makes us sorrowful, we do not love or honour you the lessbecause now we know the truth."

  Margaret rose from her chair, looked a while at her father, then with asob threw herself suddenly upon his breast.

  "Forgive me if I spoke bitterly," she said, "who, not knowing that I washalf a Jewess, have been taught to hate their race. What is it to me ofwhat faith you are, who think of you only as my dearest father?"

  "Why weep then?" asked Castell, stroking her hair tenderly.

  "Because you are in danger, or so you say, and if anything happened toyou--oh! what shall I do then?"

  "Accept it as the will of God, and bear the blow bravely, as I hope todo, should it fall," he answered, and, kissing her, left the chapel.

  "It seems that joy and trouble go hand in hand," said Margaret, lookingup presently.

  "Yes, Sweet, they were ever twins; but provided we have our share of thefirst, do not let us quarrel with the second. A pest on the priests andall their bigotry, say I! Christ sought to convert the Jews, not to killthem; and for my part I can honour the man who clings to his own faith,aye, and forgive him because they forced him to feign to belong to ours.Pray then that neither of us may live to commit a greater sin, and thatwe may soon be wed and dwell in peace away from London, where we canshelter him."

  "I do--I do," she answered, drawing close to Peter, and soon they forgottheir fears and doubts in each other's arms.

  On the following morning, that of Sunday, Peter, Margaret, and Bettywent together to Mass at St. Paul's church; but Castell said that he wasill, and did not come. Indeed, now that his conscience was stirred as tothe double life he had led so long, he purposed, if he could avoid it,to worship in a Christian church no more. Therefore he said that he wassick; and they, knowing that this sickness was of the heart, answerednothing. But privately they wondered what he would do who could notalways remain sick, since not to go to church and partake of itsSacraments was to be published as a heretic.

  But if he did not accompany them himself, Castell, without theirknowledge, sent two of his stoutest servants, bidding these keep near tothem and see that they came home safe.

  Now, when they left the church, Peter saw two Spaniards, whose faces hethought he knew, who seemed to be watching them, but, as he lost sightof them presently in the throng, said nothing. Their shortest way homeran across some fields and gardens where there were few houses. Thislane, then, they followed, talking earnestly to each other, and notingnothing till Betty behind called out to them to beware. Then Peterlooked up and saw the two Spaniards scrambling through a gap in thefence not six paces ahead of them, saw also that they laid their handsupon their sword-hilts.

  "Let us pass them boldly," he muttered to Margaret; "I'll not turn myback on a brace of Spaniards," but he also laid his hand upon the hiltof the sword he wore beneath his cloak, and bade her get behind him.

  Thus, then, they came face to face. Now, the Spaniards, who wereevil-looking fellows, bowed courteously enough, and asked if he were notMaster Peter Brome. They spoke in Spanish; but, like Margaret Peter knewthis tongue, if not too well, having been taught it as a child, andpractised it much since he came into the service of John Castell, whoused it largely in his trade.

  "Yes," he answered. "What is your business with me?"

  "We have a message for you, Senor, from a certain comrade of ours, oneAndrew, a Scotchman, whom you met a few nights ago," replied thespokesman of the pair. "He is dead, but still he sends his message, andit is that we should ask you to join him at once. Now, all of usbrothers have sworn to deliver that message, and to see that you keepthe tryst. If some of us should chance to fail, then others will meetyou with the message until you keep that tryst."

  "You mean that you wish to murder me," said Peter, setting his mouth anddrawing the sword from beneath his cloak. "Well, come on, cowards, andwe will see whom Andrew gets for company in hell to-day. Run back,Margaret and Betty--run." And he tore off his cloak and threw it overhis left arm.

  So for a moment they stood, for he looked
fierce and ill to deal with.Then, just as they began to feint in front of him, there came a rush offeet, and on either side of Peter appeared the two stout serving-men,also sword in hand.

  "I am glad of your company," he said, catching sight of them out of thecorners of his eyes. "Now, Senors Cut-throats, do you still wish todeliver that message?"

  The answer of the Spaniards, who saw themselves thus unexpectedlyout-matched, was to turn and run, whereon one of the serving-men,picking up a big stone that lay in the path, hurled it after them withall his force. It struck the hindmost Spaniard full in the back, and soheavy was the blow that he fell on to his face in the mud, whence herose and limped away, cursing them with strange, Spanish oaths, andvowing vengeance.

  "Now," said Peter, "I think that we may go home in safety, for no moremessengers will come from Andrew to-day."

  "No," gasped Margaret, "not to-day, but to-morrow or the next day theywill come, and oh! how will it end?"

  "That God knows alone," answered Peter gravely as he sheathed his sword.

  When the story of this attempt was told to Castell he seemed muchdisturbed.

  "It is clear that they have a blood-feud against you on account of thatScotchman whom you killed in self-defence," he said anxiously. "Alsothese Spaniards are very revengeful, nor have they forgiven you forcalling the English to your aid against them. Peter, I fear that if yougo abroad they will murder you."

  "Well, I cannot stay indoors always, like a rat in a drain," said Petercrossly, "so what is to be done? Appeal to the law?"

  "No; for you have just broken the law by killing a man. I think you hadbest go away for a while till this storm blows over."

  "Go away! Peter go away?" broke in Margaret, dismayed.

  "Yes," answered her father. "Listen, daughter. You cannot be married atonce. It is not seemly; moreover, notice must be given and arrangementmade. A month hence will be soon enough, and that is not long for you towait who only became affianced yesterday. Also, until you are wed, noword must be said to any one of this betrothal of yours, lest thoseSpaniards should lay their feud at your door also, and work you somemischief. Let none know of it, I charge you, and in company be distantto each other, as though there were nothing between you."

  "As you will, Sir," replied Peter; "but for my part I do not like allthese hidings of the truth, which ever lead to future trouble. I say,let me bide here and take my chance, and let us be wed as soon asmay be."

  "That your wife may be made a widow before the week is out, or the houseburnt about our ears by these rascals and their following? No, no,Peter; walk softly that you may walk safely. We will hear the report ofthe Spaniard d'Aguilar, and afterwards take counsel."